What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
budge
Example
He tried to budge the heavy furniture but it wouldn't move. [budge: verb]
Example
After much persuasion, she finally budged and agreed to come with us. [budged: past tense]
stir
Example
She stirred the soup slowly to make sure all the flavors blended together. [stir: verb]
Example
The announcement caused a stir among the audience, with everyone talking excitedly. [stir: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stir is more commonly used than budge in everyday language. Stir is versatile and can be used in both literal and figurative senses, while budge is less common and often used in specific situations where there is resistance or difficulty in movement or change.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between budge and stir?
Both budge and stir are generally informal words. However, stir can be used in more formal contexts when referring to emotional or psychological reactions.
